The Washington Commanders lackluster start against the Chicago Bears Sunday ended with a tipped pass into the endzone to win 18-15. Commanders Quarterback Jayden Daniels finished the day completing 21 for 326 yards and one touchdown. That touchdown would come in the form of a Hail Mary at the end of the game. With no time left on the clock, and back at the 48-yard line, Daniels hurled it 52 yards into the endzone only for it to get tipped into the hands of Wide Receiver Noah Brown.
Not only did this secure the win for the Washington Commanders, it kept them undefeated at home. Fans were unsure if Daniels would play Sunday considering the rib injury he was nursing last week he suffered in Week 7 vs. the Carolina Panthers, which ruled him out of that game early. However, Daniels worked through the pain, obvious by the wincing between plays and hits.
Washington Commanders Running back Brian Robison Jr. worked hard to help carry the load, rushing 16 times for 65 yards. It was a big night for the defense, who managed to dominate the Bears’ offense providing intense pressure to keep them out of field goal range and off the field. Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams, a native of the DC area, finished with 10 completions for 131 yards.
Daniels First Drive Is Good, But Timid
In his first drive of the game, Daniels went nine plays, 56 yards in four minutes to set up a 27-yard field goal by Kicker Austin Seibert. He played cautiously, but could not dodge a shot from Bears Defensive End and former Commander Montez Sweat early in the first quarter. That tackle, while clean, had the Washington Commanders’ trainers changing how they cared for Daniels during the game.
Between possessions, cameras showed trainers wrapping Daniels with a towel to ease the discomfort in his ribs. This was done with no heat and no ice. It was hoped that Daniels would be able to play comfortably since he only had limited practice this week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported early Sunday that Daniels was a limited participant in Friday’s practice and went through Washington’s walk-through practice Saturday.
The lack of practice made Daniels work to get into a pace while visibly wincing at the pain of the rib injury. However, he didn’t sit and would play the entire game through the pain. That dedication would pay off in the end with the one quality that got him hurt. His scrambling. Daniels ran roughly 10 yards back before coming forward to make the winning pass. The rest they say, is history.
Washington Commanders Start Slow With Field Goals
The Washington Commanders had more than 10 red zone snaps in the first half, only resulting in three field goals. However, the Washington Commanders kept the Bears mostly out of the first half with four punts and a turnover on downs. The Commanders finished the half with 267 total yards, dominating the ball on first and third-down conversions. The Commanders would go on to finish out Sunday’s win with 313 yards in passing and 168 yards rushing. Washington’s defense held the Bears offense to only 13 passing yards at the half, 111 total for the game.
“I like our attacking mindset, there’s plays we made but we gotta go finish this second half…It’s gonna be about finishing,” said Washington Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn before starting the second half. When asked about Daniels’ performance, he said he’s looking good. “He looks exactly like Jayden does, making plays with his legs down the field. We’re going to finish some plays in the second half.”
Finishing plays never came to fruition. The Washington Commanders were in the red zone almost a dozen times and never scored. Outside of the game-winning touchdown, it was Kicker Austin Seibert’s show, kicking four from 27, 30, 28, and 47 yards. There was also one blocked.
Final Thoughts
Washington got lucky Sunday night, but Daniels needs to rest more. It was obvious he was not as accurate and the hit after hit was taking a toll. The look on his face was a reminder of when RG3 injured his leg in that 2013 NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. The love for the game is respected, but leadership is needed in times like these. Otherwise, history is repeated.
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